Principal Cost Management Lead

Insight Global; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Insight Global is hiring on behalf of a client for a strategic Project Controls Cost leader to support large-scale capital programs across data centers, mission-critical facilities, life sciences, industrial, and advanced technology projects.

This role serves as trusted advisor to executives, leading cost management strategy, governance, forecasting, reporting, and financial controls across complex programs.

Qualifications

• 13+ years of experience in project controls, cost management, estimat­ing, commercial management, or capital project delivery.
• Experience managing project budgets, forecasting, cost reporting, and financial performance for large capital programs.
• Strong understanding of earned value management (EVM), cost forecasting, change management, and financial controls.
• Experience supporting projects through planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout.
• Demonstrated client‑facing experience and ability to influence executive stakeholders.
• Experience leading project controls or cost management teams.
• Ability to connect cost performance to schedule, risk, procurement, and overall program outcomes.
• Strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills.
• Experience supporting data center, mission‑critical, life sciences, semiconductor, industrial manufacturing, or advanced technology projects.
• Program or portfolio‑level project controls leadership experience.
• Experience building project controls frameworks, governance structures, and reporting standards.
• Expertise with project controls and cost management platforms such as EcoSys, Primavera Unifier, Oracle, SAP, Power BI, Tableau, Advanced Excel.
• Experience developing executive‑level dashboards and financial reporting tools.
• Experience working in an Owner's Representative, EPCM, consulting, or enterprise capital project environment.
• Master's degree or industry certifications such as CCP, EVP, PMP, RICS, CEP, or PSP.
• Business development and client relationship management experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary cost management and project controls advisor to client leadership teams.
• Establish and oversee program‑wide cost management frameworks, governance structures, reporting standards, and best practices.
• Lead budget development, forecasting, cash flow planning, estimate reviews, and cost reporting across large capital programs.
• Develop executive dashboards, KPIs, and portfolio‑level reporting to communicate program performance, risks, trends, and financial health.
• Drive alignment between project controls, cost management, procurement, commercial, and project management teams.
• Lead cost risk assessments, scenario planning, contingency management, and what‑if analysis to support executive decision‑making.
• Identify cost trends, budget variances, change impacts, and mitigation strategies across multiple projects and programs.
• Oversee change management processes and evaluate financial impacts to program delivery.
• Partner with clients, contractors, designers, and third‑party stakeholders to ensure consistency and accuracy of cost data.
• Mentor and develop project controls professionals, cost managers, and cost engineers.
• Support client pursuits, proposals, presentations, and business development initiatives.
• Help establish best‑in‑class project controls processes and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Project controls

Cost management

Budgeting and forecasting

EVM (Earned Value Management)

Client-facing leadership

Leadership of teams

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical skills

Communication and presentation

Industry experience (data center/life

Education

Master's degree

Certifications (CCP, EVP, PMP, RICS, CEP, PSP)

Tools

EcoSys

Primavera Unifier

Oracle

SAP

Power BI

Tableau

Advanced Excel

Job description

Job Description

Insight Global is hiring on behalf of one of our clients for a strategic Project Controls Cost leader to support large-scale capital programs across data centers, mission-critical facilities, life sciences, industrial, and advanced technology projects.

This individual will serve as a trusted advisor to executive stakeholders while leading cost management strategy, governance, forecasting, reporting, and financial controls across complex capital programs. The ideal candidate combines deep project controls expertise with strong client-facing leadership experience and the ability to influence program-level decisions and business outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary cost management and project controls advisor to client leadership teams.
• Establish and oversee program-wide cost management frameworks, governance structures, reporting standards, and best practices.
• Lead budget development, forecasting, cash flow planning, estimate reviews, and cost reporting across large capital programs.
• Develop executive dashboards, KPIs, and portfolio-level reporting to communicate program performance, risks, trends, and financial health.
• Drive alignment between project controls, cost management, procurement, commercial, and project management teams.
• Lead cost risk assessments, scenario planning, contingency management, and what-if analysis to support executive decision-making.
• Identify cost trends, budget variances, change impacts, and mitigation strategies across multiple projects and programs.
• Oversee change management processes and evaluate financial impacts to program delivery.
• Partner with clients, contractors, designers, and third-party stakeholders to ensure consistency and accuracy of cost data.
• Mentor and develop project controls professionals, cost managers, and cost engineers.
• Support client pursuits, proposals, presentations, and business development initiatives.
• Help establish best-in-class project controls processes and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills and Requirements

• 13+ years of experience in project controls, cost management, estimating, commercial management, or capital project delivery.
• Experience managing project budgets, forecasting, cost reporting, and financial performance for large capital programs.
• Strong understanding of earned value management (EVM), cost forecasting, change management, and financial controls.
• Experience supporting projects through planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout.
• Demonstrated client‑facing experience and ability to influence executive stakeholders.
• Experience leading project controls or cost management teams.
• Ability to connect cost performance to schedule, risk, procurement, and overall program outcomes.
• Strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills.
• Experience supporting data center, mission‑critical, life sciences, semiconductor, industrial manufacturing, or advanced technology projects.
• Program or portfolio‑level project controls leadership experience.
• Experience building project controls frameworks, governance structures, and reporting standards.
• Expertise with project controls and cost management platforms such as:
  • EcoSys
  • Primavera Unifier
  • Oracle
  • SAP
  • Power BI
  • Tableau
  • Advanced Excel
• Experience developing executive‑level dashboards and financial reporting tools.
• Experience working in an Owner's Representative, EPCM, consulting, or enterprise capital project environment.
• Master's degree or industry certifications such as CCP, EVP, PMP, RICS, CEP, or PSP.
• Business development and client relationship management experience.

We are a company committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments where people can bring their full, authentic selves to work every day. We are an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer that believes everyone matters. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, genetic factors, age, disability, protected veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to [e-mail].